Be Gentle with Yourself!

Hey Pumpkins (this will make sense next Thursday),

First up...

Blog Announcement

Starting Tuesday, September 22nd, the weekly "DMV Events" posts will occur on Tuesdays.  I realized it is better to post events for the weekend earlier in the week to give people a chance to plan to attend.

On to today's post...


I am not sure that I have been able to articulate in my recent posts that I am having a moment.  By a moment, I mean I have experienced some challenges that have left me a little bruised but stronger.  I am healing, I am stronger and I am more in control of my emotions than I've ever felt in my entire life.

I'm stronger because I was prepared and I was not alone.  I chose not to be angry.  I chose to manage the situations, as they occurred.  I chose not to lose my cool and to step away before my words created additional unnecessary situations.  I chose me!  I chose to do what would honor the God whose Spirit lives in me.  And I chose to forgive....myself.

There have been so many times in my life when circumstances and situations have arisen and I blamed myself because I ...[you fill in the rest].  I was a victim held captive in a prison that I built and governed.  I would not allow myself to forgive myself because I...[you fill in the rest].  Which means I definitely could not forgive anyone else.  Relationships were damaged and then it would really be my fault because...I...I think you get it.

However, at some point, I allowed the voice of God to be louder and clearer than the enslaving words that filled my head.  I could feel His voice saying, I can't help you until you let it go and forgive yourself.  I realize I was treating myself bad and this opened the door for others to mistreat me or manipulate situations in their favor.  When I allowed God's Spirit to remind me who I am, how I was created, why I was created and for whose purpose I was created, I came alive again and my spirit was flooded with peace.  I had long ago accepted Jesus Christ, as my Lord and Savior, but this felt like another level of my born again experience.   A level where I could not take the the unforgiveness I had been holding onto.

And then the test began, I had unnecessary situations at work and I had unbelievable situations with friends.  But this time, I was different.  I quickly forgave myself and forgave them because I did not want to lose what I had gained--it was too sweet.  While I still had to deal with the residue from the situations which caused bruises, I am stronger and I enjoying my new level--peace!

If you are experiencing a test, rest in the fact that you are going to the next level!  Ask God through prayer to help you recall what was spoken to you during your time of preparation.  Then walk in it!  You may get a little bruised but you will be stronger once you reach that next level!

Until Next Time,

Keep it Resourceful!

~The ResourceNista

Working the Plan-ner!

Hello!

Well, a couple of weekends ago I extended my weekend by adding a few extra days off.  This allowed me to have a little staycation (ResourceNista definition:  get my house right, do stuff for other people, don't check work email and release some of the work toxins.)

I enjoyed every minute of it!  I got up at 7-something-AM everyday.  Two of those days were due to  my hot water heater replacement.  When faced with this appliance replacement, I had to accept the fact that I had been negligent in my home maintenance plan.  I thought I was on top of things because I had a little "To-Do" list but what I really had was a problem...an organizational problem.

Since knowing is half the battle, I developed a plan to encourage and motivate myself to stay on task during my days off.  Each night before bed, I assessed that goals/tasks I needed to accomplish.  Each morning, I refreshed my mind with the plan, added any last minute updates and then I moved into action toward accomplishing my daily goals.  What an amazing feeling!  It was so empowering when things came up and they didn't throw off the plan!  Since I was organized through planning and preparation, I could easily make adjustments and still met all of my daily goals.

How was I able to stay on task?  My planner.  Yep, I'm in the planner movement!

MAMBI Happy Planner-Gold Foil  photo taken by me

I've been using a planner for a while but over the last few months, I decided to take it to the next level.  Digging deep to determine what I really needed in a planner and what would keep me motivated to use it.  So, after a few tries, I finally purchased the Happy Planner by Me & My Big Ideas (MAMBI).  I'm told and have seen a few pictures/video about its similarity to the Erin Condren planner but the Happy Planner can be purchased at a local craft store and it was a budget friendly option.  This planner features the ability to remove pages, reinsert pages and add new pages.  Since I have already been using the Levenger/Staples Arc System for my bible study notes, this was really a no brainer!  I have been very happy with the system!

MAMBI Happy Planner -- Inside View Photo taken by me

Are you in the planner nation?  Are you a planner addict?  Let me know your favorite planner and planner accessories!

Done and on to the Biggest Comeback of My Life! -- Part I

Have there ever been days when you knew the moment you woke up, a page would be turning and you had to move forward to the next stage of your journey?  Have you ever been faced with the reality that you could no longer accept the nonsense you had allowed to dominate your heart, mind and life for whatever reason?  Have you ever been so mad because situation(s) has reached it boiling point, you shake from the core of your being and feel like your spirit is about to abandon you because your emotions have over taken its space?  I have.  It was Thursday.

 *Photo taken by me

See, I had two situations brewing on the hot box called my life--one personal and the other professional.  I thought the personal situation was handled because I had a conversation with the other party and I really thought the person understood.  I knew I understood what they were telling me.  But go figure, this person didn't understand what I was saying, even though I kept asking do you understand?  You see, while the minor portion of the story opened the door for our discussion, it was minor to me because neither they nor I held the master key to that situation.  Yet they still couldn't let the minor go.  Maintaining control of it meant more to them then to me because I understood it was beyond my control.  I get wanting to maintain that position of "control," but I could not continue to allow my friend to believe they could control our friendship because of the "minor." So I restated my points from our conversation and then let them know, I was done and moving on.  Of course my friend could only focus on potential stumbling blocks but I was done so I invited them to join me in moving forward.  Going back was no longer an option.  I had committed to do what was best for me verses allowing anyone to keep dragging me through the same situation because they had not yet obtained the peace they needed to move forward.  I knew I could not help them without losing a piece of myself and I realized I do not have any pieces left to lose.  I accepted my limitation and proclaimed that I was done! The page has been turned.


Have you experienced the morning call that today would be presented with a chance to move forward in your journey?  What are you willing to claim as "DONE" in your life?  Have you allowed the page to be turned?  Hint:  You will be okay!


Aside from God, you are the greatest resource you will ever have!  Honor God by protecting it!


More to come!


Until then,


Keep it resourceful!